Morris Minor in spotlight for Wolverhampton mini film series

Jane Ward's Morris Minor car will be making its debut next month as the star of six short films. Cathy Spencer reports.

There has been Herbie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Kitt from Knight Rider – and now there is Morris.

Morris the Morris Minor is the star of six short films, the brainchild of theatre director Jane Ward who has grown up with the motors since she was a child.

See pictures in our photo gallery to the right

The films, which will be shown on YouTube next month, last just 90 seconds but follow the car, and its fictional owner – also called Morris – over six decades. The story is being brought to life by youngsters at the Central Youth Theatre in Wolverhampton, which Jane started in 1983.

The films were shot on location in Wolverhampton and surrounding villages including Claverley, Brewood, Trysull and Badger. Jane's love of the cars was inherited from her father Ken Ward.

"He had a black Morris Minor car before I was born," says Jane. "The first car I remember was his Morris Oxford in the early 1970s when I was growing up in Penn – it had big seats and was very comfortable. When we talked about getting me a car it was the perfect choice."

In 1982, Jane bought her first, a green Morris Minor Traveller that she drove around until 1987. Then she replaced it with a white Traveller until 1992.

A green Morris Minor van was next until 1994 when she got a Marina, which she kept until 2002 when she bought her present car, a white Traveller. Jane says the young scriptwriters involved in the films were able to use her life for inspiration.

"I learnt to drive in a Morris Minor Traveller when I was 21," says Jane, 50, who lives in Bradmore.

"My father bought it for me to help me pass my test, and I've been loyal to the Traveller ever since. As a young woman I had many adventures in the car, smashing into ice cream vans, the back of a bus and skidding into ditches.

"After my early years of reckless driving I learned to be a bit more careful.

"My current Morris Minor Traveller is a still my work car, and it is frequently seen travelling around the city loaded full of costumes and scenery for productions."

After appeals in a number of classic car magazines, more than 30 vintage vehicle and scooter owners brought thier pride and joys to the different shoot days, to help the young people recreate the look and feel of each motoring decade.

Besides the white Morris Traveller, which was the star of the film, a number of other Morris Minors also appeared, including a rare high-topped Curry's van.

Jane says: "The car has a real effect on people and they say things like 'my dad used to have one like that'.

"They were the first economy car and just tend to keep going – the clock only goes up to 99,999 and then goes back to zero."

The films, called Travels with Morris, were funded by the Lottery through First Light Films, the education arm of the British Film Institute.

The aim of the funding is to train young people in every aspect of film making.